WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

SUMMER CAMPS

Women's Basketball set to raise the bar on and off the court this season

New Head Coach Diana Couch and four returning sophomores set to lead the Women's Basketball team.

With a new Head Coach and only four returning players the Indian River Pioneers women’s basketball team has set their sights on embracing the change. Diana Couch, former Kansas Jayhawk Coach from Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, will take over the helm of this year’s Pioneer crew that finds itself short on experience. With only four returners in Precious Roberts, Shaquandria Litmon, Bria Dorsey and San Sarah Lesperance the Pioneers will look to quickly grow their freshman class. Thankfully the River will return a combined 20points per game in this returning class, with Precious Roberts who averaged 10ppg leading the way.

The freshman class is definitely not lacking in scoring power as they are soon going to be thrown into the fire as they set their goal on reaching post-season play. With the beginning leadership of a local student-athlete from St. Lucie West Centennial, post player Miranda Wilt, this young bunch are hungry to get the season underway. Guards Arielle Gallon from Bartow High School, Samaria Howard from Engelwood High School, Sarah Kelton from Hollywood Christian and Shaniya Watson round out the new freshman that were in place as Couch took over the program late this summer. La’ Garren “Kasey” Wellon from Palatka, Monique Colston from Tavares and Jaslyne Wadley from Apopka round out the last of summer signee’s.

“I am looking forward to the possibilities this upcoming season”, 1st year Head Coach Diana Couch says of her new squad. “We are so quick and have tremendous athletic ability. Now we just have to harness everyone’s energy and competitiveness and channel it into the right team offensive sets.” says Couch. “I think with this team it’s not a matter of not having the ability or not having the want to win. It’s more about us finding the way to get it done as a team. It’s going to be a whole new philosophy for all of them. But I think they will adjust quickly and we will raise our expectations game after game until we have the bar set at the level of play we know we will need for Conference play."

But the court isn't the only place that the Pioneers have challenged themselves to raise the bar. Head Coach Diana Couch has explained to her team that Academics are to take priority over Basketball. With team expectations and guidelines in place for academics this team has set their sights on receiving academic honors as well. "We are trying to set a new school record for team GPA in the Women's Basketball program" said Coach Couch. "With that goal comes a lot of hard work, commitment and time management. But I believe this team has the focus to do it. There is no reason that these student-athletes should ever forget that Student comes before Athlete."